Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Update

One more week and Christmas will be upon us. What to do, what to do? Here’s to hoping all of you are lucky enough to have your shopping done, cards written and mailed, and with nothing left to do but eat and unwrap! For those of you like us, we still have work to do…

UPCOMING EVENTS


(Airing)
December 23 – The Ringer – starring Johnny Knoxville – coming to
theaters near you. This film is approved
by Special Olympics International, hence
why we are promoting it. So, do your best
to “get butts in the seats!”
http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/theringer

January ? – Dutchess is looking for any interested individuals for
Coaches Basketball Training School. Please contact Kathi
Nolan at Dcspoly@aol.com .

January 14, 2006 – Peter Aquilone Floor Hockey Tournament (Javits)
***Please note there will be some changes to this
event! IT WILL NO LONGER BE PLAYED ON
ASPHALT IN THE ANNEX AT JAVITS! The
registration deadline is Tuesday, December 20th, so
please let us know immediately of your interest. As
an added bonus the NHL will be providing Jerseys
for five of the Gold Medal winning teams.
Additionally, there will be some NHL giveaways at
Olympic Village as well as some NHL players and
alumni at the event. Please be sure to inform us if
you are attending! Skills and Teams are Welcome
to attend!



January 21, 2006 – Winter Coaches Conference – hosted in Dutchess
All coaches that coach a winter sport are expected
to attend. This is inclusive of Floor Hockey, Ice
Skating, Alpine Skiing, and All other Winter Sports.
This conference will include the following:
• Upcoming competition schedule and format
• Upcoming sports rules and changes
• Upcoming training schedule
• Registration deadlines
• General session & protective behaviors
• Floor Hockey sport specific certification
• Advanced coaches training: Dealing with Behavioral Problems
• Any program concerns
Please contact the office (845) 878-9722 with
your RSVP by 13 Jan. 2006.

January 28, 2006 – Regional Floor Hockey Skills Competition at the
Mark Twain Sports Complex in Yonkers.

NEW (2006) CALENDAR ADDITIONS:

JANUARY 6, 2006 – Alpine Skiing Program @ Catamount
This program will run for six consecutive weeks
every Wednesday from 6pm – 9pm. There is a cost
attached for lift tickets, rentals and lessons, should
they be necessary. This cost will be offset by this
office. Please call the office for further
information. (845) 878-9722

MARCH 5, 2006 – Alpine Skiing Competition @ Butternut

MARCH 12, 2006 – Aquatics Competition @ Dutchess YMCA

SEPTEMBER 9, 2006 – Regional Fall Games @ FDR State Park




PAST EVENTS

• The Rockland Floor Hockey League continues with five weeks of competitive opportunities and over 237 competitive opportunities already achieved.



GENERAL INFORMATION

• RULE CHANGE: Soccer Update (2006) - From SONY:
The Hudson Valley Region will adopt these changes for the 2006 Fall sports season.
Effective January 1, 2006; Special Olympics New York will replace 5 a side Soccer with (7 v 7) - 7 a side Soccer at all events. This rule is consistent with the official Special Olympics rules. You can access the rules at www.specialolympicsny.org/c-fallrules.html
The roster size for our soccer teams will remain 10 players. In addition to the number of players on the field, there are only 2 other rules that are in direct conflict with the current 5 a side Soccer:
o The size of the 7 v 7field can be (50 – 70) meters in length and (35 – 50) meters in width.
o The 7 v 7 rules allow an athlete to either kick or throw the ball in from the sideline.

• Rockland County will be hosting a fundraiser on January 29th, 2006 at the Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack. The play being presented will be “Moon over Buffalo”. NEW INFORMATION:
I would like to give you all the first opportunity to contribute to a benefit for the Winter Special Olympics tennis program. The tickets are only $ 20.00 per person. The proceeds will help fund our local Special Olympic tennis program covering, among other expenses, indoor court rental fees, awards, t-shirts, etc. The tennis program has become very popular, with at least 20 athletes from the Clarkstown area participating.
Tickets are limited (the theatre seats only 100 people! ) Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis.
Please make checks out to:
'Special Olympics New York Hudson Valley Region' ($ 20.00 per ticket)
please put 'Tennis- Elmwood Benefit' in the memo section of your check.
Checks can be sent to the address below.
Ted Mascola
Special Ed- SPIRIT Program
Clarkstown HS South
31 Demarest Mill Road
West Nyack, NY 10994
If you are unable to make the performance you can also help by making a straight donation. Please feel free to pass the word around to your colleagues, friends and neighbors.


• Plans are on the way for the 17th Annual Bresnan Bike Tour. The riders leave from Patterson, NY and finish over 200 miles later in Bennington, VT. The tour will take place June 9-11. *** PLEASE NOTE THIS DATE CHANGE! For more information you can contact Maria Madero at the Hudson Valley office.



Coaches in the Hudson Valley Region:
I have included some information regarding the National Games in 2006. SONY will be sending a delegation to National Games and we are looking for coaches who are interested in joining the Delegation. Please find attached the cover letter and application. If you have any questions please write or call.

Cover Letter:
Dear Coach:

As you might be aware, the first ever Special Olympics USA National Games will be taking place July 2-7, 2006, in Ames Iowa. While the exact size of our delegation has yet to be determined, we have decided to begin our search for a coaching staff. If you are interested in becoming a Head Coach or Coach for a sport, please complete the attached Coach Application. This application will serve as a basis for our selection process, if appropriate additional interviews and reference checks will be conducted.

As Team New York, we have the potential opportunity to send coaches in the following sports:

Aquatics Athletics
Bocce Bowling
Golf Gymnastics
Powerlifting Tennis
MATP

There is also the potential for Team participation, and as the information becomes available, it will be forwarded to the appropriate individuals.

Applications to coach at the National Games must be received in the Schenectady office by January 2, 2006.

Please direct any questions concerning National Games to myself at 518-388-0791 or Steve Fuller at 585-586-7400. Our emails are as follows plawrence@nyso.org or sfuller@nyso.org.

Sincerely,
Peter Lawrence
Vice President/Competition

Click here for Application Form

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Update

Two more weeks and Christmas will be upon us. What to do, what to do? Here’s to hoping all of you are lucky enough to have your shopping done, cards written and mailed, and with nothing left to do but eat and unwrap! For those of you like us, we still have work to do…

UPCOMING EVENTS

WINTER GAMES QUOTA SURVEY INFORMATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All quota survey information regarding Winter Games is needed in this office by 19 December, 2005. That’s next MONDAY! Please call the office and let us know what your interest is by then so we can accurately put in for available slots! (845) 878-9722!
Thanks!

(Airing)
December 23 – The Ringer – starring Johnny Knoxville – coming to
theaters near you. This film is approved
by Special Olympics International, hence
why we are promoting it. So, do your best
to “get butts in the seats!”
http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/theringer

January ? – Dutchess is looking for any interested individuals for
Coaches Basketball Training School. Please contact Kathi
Nolan at Dcspoly@aol.com .

January 14, 2006 – Peter Aquilone Floor Hockey Tournament (Javits)
***Please note there will be some changes to this
event! IT WILL NO LONGER BE PLAYED ON
ASPHALT IN THE ANNEX AT JAVITS! The
registration deadline is Tuesday, December 20th, so
please let us know immediately of your interest. As
an added bonus the NHL will be providing Jerseys
for five of the Gold Medal winning teams.
Additionally, there will be some NHL giveaways at
Olympic Village as well as some NHL players and
alumni at the event. Please be sure to inform us if
you are attending! Skills and Teams are Welcome
to attend!



January 21, 2006 – Winter Coaches Conference – hosted in Dutchess
All coaches that coach a winter sport are expected
to attend. This is inclusive of Floor Hockey, Ice
Skating, Alpine Skiing, and All other Winter Sports.
This conference will include the following:
• Upcoming competition schedule and format
• Upcoming sports rules and changes
• Upcoming training schedule
• Registration deadlines
• General session & protective behaviors
• Floor Hockey sport specific certification
• Advanced coaches training: Dealing with Behavioral Problems
• Any program concerns
Please contact the office (845) 878-9722 with
your RSVP by 13 Jan. 2006.


NEW (2006) CALENDAR ADDITIONS:

JANUARY 6, 2006 – Alpine Skiing Program @ Catamount
This program will run for six consecutive weeks
every Wednesday from 6pm – 9pm. There is a cost
attached for lift tickets, rentals and lessons, should
they be necessary. This cost will be offset by this
office. Please call the office for further
information. (845) 878-9722

MARCH 5, 2006 – Alpine Skiing Competition @ Butternut

MARCH 12, 2006 – Aquatics Competition @ Dutchess YMCA

SEPTEMBER 9, 2006 – Regional Fall Games @ FDR State Park


PAST EVENTS

• This past weekend the Hudson Valley Region hosted its’ first Unified Bowling event. Much to my delight, I am not quite sure who enjoyed it more, the Special Olympians or the Special Partners. That, in and of itself made the day quite successful from my point of view. When everyone leaves the event wanting to do it again, maybe we should. Why wait a whole year? Regardless, the scratch ratio was under 6% for this event and we had right around 62 athletes participate and rave about their successes. We’re glad we could end our competitive season on a high note.

• The Rockland Floor Hockey League continues with four weeks of competitive opportunities and over 237 competitive opportunities already achieved.

• The Pioneer League continues its interscholastic competitions in this its’ final week of the soccer cycle. Next year begins the training for the Floor Hockey cycle.




GENERAL INFORMATION

• RULE CHANGE: Soccer Update (2006) - From SONY:
The Hudson Valley Region will adopt these changes for the 2006 Fall sports season.
Effective January 1, 2006; Special Olympics New York will replace 5 a side Soccer with (7 v 7) - 7 a side Soccer at all events. This rule is consistent with the official Special Olympics rules. You can access the rules at www.specialolympicsny.org/c-fallrules.html
The roster size for our soccer teams will remain 10 players. In addition to the number of players on the field, there are only 2 other rules that are in direct conflict with the current 5 a side Soccer:
o The size of the 7 v 7field can be (50 – 70) meters in length and (35 – 50) meters in width.
o The 7 v 7 rules allow an athlete to either kick or throw the ball in from the sideline.

• Rockland County will be hosting a fundraiser on January 29th, 2006 at the Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack. The play being presented will be “Moon over Buffalo”. NEW INFORMATION:
I would like to give you all the first opportunity to contribute to a benefit for the Winter Special Olympics tennis program. The tickets are only $ 20.00 per person. The proceeds will help fund our local Special Olympic tennis program covering, among other expenses, indoor court rental fees, awards, t-shirts, etc. The tennis program has become very popular, with at least 20 athletes from the Clarkstown area participating.
Tickets are limited (the theatre seats only 100 people! ) Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis.
Please make checks out to:
'Special Olympics New York Hudson Valley Region' ($ 20.00 per ticket)
please put 'Tennis- Elmwood Benefit' in the memo section of your check.
Checks can be sent to the address below.
Ted Mascola
Special Ed- SPIRIT Program
Clarkstown HS South
31 Demarest Mill Road
West Nyack, NY 10994
If you are unable to make the performance you can also help by making a straight donation. Please feel free to pass the word around to your colleagues, friends and neighbors.


• Plans are on the way for the 17th Annual Bresnan Bike Tour. The riders leave from Patterson, NY and finish over 200 miles later in Bennington, VT. The tour will take place June 9-11. *** PLEASE NOTE THIS DATE CHANGE! For more information you can contact Maria Madero at the Hudson Valley office.


Please do not forget the WINTER GAMES QUOTA SURVEY INFORMATION! How many floor hockey skills athletes’ slots do you want? How many snowshoeing? How many Alpine skiers? Floor Hockey team? Let us know ASAP?

Thanks!

Monday, December 05, 2005

Update

WEEKLY UPDATE

Week of December 5, 2005

Just shy of three more shopping weeks ‘til Christmas. It is hard to believe that we are almost at the close of yet another year. Lots of Silver and Gold, as the song goes, still to impart here in the Hudson Valley Region, however. We are going to being 2005 to close with our first ever Unified event next weekend. Read on for more details…

UPCOMING EVENTS


December 9 & 10 - Racquetball Tournament Fundraiser
(Fundraising) at Club Fit – Jefferson Valley
RACQUETBALL TOURNAMENT
KELLY McELHINNEY Special Olympics USAR Doubles Tourney Benefit
Adults Dec. 9 Fri. 5:00 – 10:00 P.M.
Dec. 10 Sat. 8:30A.M. – 7:30P.M.
Entry Fees:
One Event $50 + 5 referee fee
Two Events $55 + 5 referee fee
Registration info: call Gail Bell at (914) 245 – 4040 ext. 128 or
Email Gail at: gbell@clubfit.com

December 10 – Alpine Skiing Training School @ Ski Windham
9:00am – 4:00pm (Gen. Session & Protective Beh.)*
***Please call the office (845) 878-9722 for further
information regarding registration for Alpine TS.

December 11 – Unified Bowling Competition: Registration for this
Competition will begin promptly at 9:00am. Please
ensure that all athletes and Special Partners are timely
in their arrival. Currently registration is holding at
approximately 60 athletes and partners. We are
looking forward to an outstanding event! If you have
any last minute entries call Ellen post haste!

NEW (2006) CALENDAR ADDITIONS:

JANUARY 6, 2006 – Alpine Skiing Program @ Catamount
This program will run for six consecutive weeks
every Wednesday from 6pm – 9pm. There is a cost
attached for lift tickets, rentals and lessons, should
they be necessary. Please call the office for
further information. (845) 878-9722

MARCH 5, 2006 – Alpine Skiing Competition @ Butternut

MARCH 12, 2006 – Aquatics Competition @ Dutchess YMCA

SEPTEMBER 9, 2006 – Regional Fall Games @ FDR State Park


PAST EVENTS

The Physical Fitness event, hosted in Yonkers this past weekend, saw in excess of 120 athletes from Westchester and Dutchess counties go for the Gold in up to ten events. With the help of several different volunteer groups and coaches totaling over 50, the event was a grand success. Thanks to all those who gave up yet another Saturday to see our Olympians shine!

The Rockland Floor Hockey League continues with three weeks of competitive opportunities and over 165 competitive opportunities already achieved.

The Pioneer League continues its interscholastic competitions and has added more officials to its ranks this week. We are looking forward to yet another success year.

GENERAL INFORMATION


• Rockland County will be hosting a fundraiser on January 29th, 2006 at the Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack. The play being presented will be “Moon over Buffalo”. NEW INFORMATION:
I would like to give you all the first opportunity to contribute to a benefit for the Winter Special Olympics tennis program. The tickets are only $ 20.00 per person. The proceeds will help fund our local Special Olympic tennis program covering, among other expenses, indoor court rental fees, awards, t-shirts, etc. The tennis program has become very popular, with at least 20 athletes from the Clarkstown area participating.
Tickets are limited (the theatre seats only 100 people! ) Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis.
Please make checks out to:
'Special Olympics New York Hudson Valley Region' ( $ 20.00 per ticket)
please put 'Tennis- Elmwood Benefit' in the memo section of your check.
Checks can be sent to the address below.
Ted Mascola
Special Ed- SPIRIT Program
Clarkstown HS South
31 Demarest Mill Road
West Nyack, NY 10994
If you are unable to make the performance you can also help by making a straight donation. Please feel free to pass the word around to your colleagues, friends and neighbors.


• Plans are on the way for the 17th Annual Bresnan Bike Tour. The riders leave from Patterson, NY and finish over 200 miles later in Bennington, VT. The tour will take place June 9-11. *** PLEASE NOTE THIS DATE CHANGE! For more information you can contact Maria Madero at the Hudson Valley office.


“Gee-thanks!” Hey, I really mean it. Not the “thanks” you get as you hold the door for someone at the convenience store on a nice day. I mean the “thanks” when someone takes a moment, makes eye contact, breaks into a smile, and says, “gee-thanks” because you did what you do for others. So, “gee-thanks…again”